SHC stays issuance of notification of Jam Madad win

Karachi: Sindh High Court SHC on Monday stayed the issuance of official notification of winning candidate Jam Madad Ali of Pakistan Muslim League Functional PMLF on a provincial assembly seat PS81 in Sanghar till further orders.

A division bench, headed by Justice Irfan Sadaat Khan heard the constitutional petition filed Asghar Junejo of Pakistan Peoples’ Party PPP, a rival candidate from the constituency PS81 who lost the seat, against rigging in the polls.

The petitioner stated that the workers of PMLF candidate rigged the by-elections and threatened his voters and polling agents who were not allowed to enter the polling stations. He alleged that the ballot boxes of 30 polling stations containing votes in his favour were not properly counted by returning officer.

The runner up candidate submitted that he later lodged a complaint with the returning officer, demanding recounting on 30 polling stations but his plea was not entertained. He prayed to the court to direct the ECP to recount the votes at 30 polling stations of his constituency.

He also prayed to the court to restrain the commission from issuing the notification of the winning candidate. The court restrained the commission from issuing of the notification of winning candidate and directed the ECP and other respondents to file comments.